CHILD-CARE RESEARCH - A CASE FOR CANADIAN NATIONAL STANDARDS

Recent research on child care is reviewed with respect to the effects of (a) licensing/regulation and (b) teacher education on the provision of high quality care for young children and developmental outcomes. A model is proposed indicating direct and indirect links between licens ing and regulation, teacher education, the quality of child care and c hild development outcomes. Discussion focusses on critical differences in American and Canadian demographic and attitudes (i.e., cultural, s ocial, linguistic, economic, political) and how this influences interp retation of research findings. Using the characteristics of the Canadi an context as a guiding framework, recommendations are made for nation al standards for (a) licensing and regulation of child care and, (b) t eacher education.